A ‘GROT SPOT’ in Southport town centre has been blitzed by Sefton Council’s waste enforcement officers and Environmental Hit Squad II.

Officers had been alerted to a recent build up of dumped rubbish in Royal Terrace near to West Street. The accumulation of fly-tipped waste was reported to officers by local traders and nearby residents.

A team of enforcement officers visited businesses to check they were complying with duty of care legislation while the Environmental Hit Squad visited the site and spent two days clearing the waste away from the area. During the clean-up operation they shifted more than three tonnes of rubbish.

The Environmental Hit Squad II was set up in April 2003 with the aim of reducing the rat population in the Linacre and Derby wards in Litherland and Bootle. They work closely with waste enforcement officers who deal with environmental crime issues.

Both teams now cover all NRF wards in the borough clearing dumped rubbish away, enforcing legislation and reducing rodent activity in the areas.

Principal environmental health officer, Rob Monks, said: “We had been alerted to the dumped waste by local traders and residents and sent the Hit Squad in to make a real difference. The amount of rubbish just discarded was unbelievable and was made up of both trade and domestic waste.

“Leaving rubbish of this nature can be a health hazard as it encourage rats to nest and breed and also encourages anti-social behaviour within the community. At Sefton we will not tolerate this sort of anti-social behaviour and will take action against anyone caught doing it.”